Real paid AC Milan £62 million to secure the Brazilian's signature, but, according to a report commissioned by Weber Shandwick Sport, Los Merengues could recoup their investment next season.

The report suggests the figure of £62 million could be generated in extra annual revenue for Real through shirt sales, sponsorship revenue and match ticket sales.

"Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo can be viewed in the same bracket as David Beckham when it comes to global commercial impact," said Simon Chadwick, a professor of sports business strategy and marketing at Coventry University who did the research for Weber Shandwick Sport.

"Becks sold a million shirts in his first six months at Real Madrid when he was just one of several Galácticos turning out for the all-whites, alongside the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Raul and the Brazilian Ronaldo."

He added in Bloomberg: "There would be a real focus on Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo's talents on the pitch, but also their brand off it.

"That will pay for their transfers several times over, even with a bumper salary package."

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